Thoughts on training camp..."I think we have a lot of confidence and we have come a long way. We still have 14 days to prepare for our first game and we have to maximize every day."

Areas that surprise you..."We have more talent than I thought that we had when I took the job. When you are coming into a program that hasn't had much success, as a matter of fact, hasn't had a winning season in the last five years, and none of our kids have experienced a winning season in a UAB uniform. So as you take the job, you think that there is not much talent and it's going to take a few years to recruit personnel and get really good players in place. What I've been impressed with is we have a lot of talent - size, speed and ability - we have that."

On being so close to the first game..."You are always concentrating, but your intensity level really does raise your focus as the head coach. Your commitment to getting things to come around and your patience starts to go away a little bit because we are not in camp. It's time to start doing things right, time to start getting ourselves ready to play well on game day."

On four tough games to start the season..."We're committed to being the best that we can possibly be on a daily basis. If that's your commitment and that's what you are focused on it doesn't matter who you are playing, it doesn't matter where you're playing, it doesn't matter if it's a practice session, a workout, a walk through, a meeting - none of that matters when you are committed to being the best that you can be on a daily basis."

Senior Linebacker Marvin BurdetteOn how camp has gone under head coach Garrick McGee..."It's been a good experience, I think for everybody. One of my biggest memories (so far) was one of the first days of camp during break. We were grinding and all of sudden coach called a break and we had all these big fans and tents and popsicles and I had never been exposed to anything like that in the past. Usually it was just water and Gatorade and back on the field. So Coach McGee truly meant what he said about having a different mindset as a small time program to a big time program. I think he has really treated us like that and I thank him for that."

"It is very important because it makes it feel like the coach is standing behind you and doing everything he can for you and it makes you lay everything on the line for him. It makes you feel good that a coach is doing so much for you and it plays a big part."

Sophomore Running Back Darrin ReavesOn the competition between running backs..."We (the running backs) come out and compete everyday, every practice, every snap. We have to bring our A-game because if you mess up you have another guy waiting to take your job."

Junior Defensive Tackle Connor BoyettOn the improvement of the defensive line..."The (defensive line) has definitely shown an improvement. Coach Jimmy Williams has helped us fix a whole bunch of things technique wise and has helped us understand how to play better and faster and I think you'll see a lot more production from the defensive line as a whole."